What appeared to be a crucial equaliser by Lukas Nmecha for Preston North End against Aston Villa has been officially declared an own goal by one of the visiting players, Ahmed Elmohamady.
Sports247.ng can report that Nmecha, who is on loan from Manchester City, looked to have scored to cancel out fellow-Nigerian-born striker, Tammy Abraham’s first-half goal for Villa.
Abraham, who is on loan from Chelsea, struck his 14th goal of the season to put Villa in front in the first half before Nmecha’s close-range hit after the break took a deflection off Elmohamady.
Though Nmecha, who also has German nationality, claimed the goal as his own, and was happy that it ensured the spoils were shared, officials spoilt his fun be recording it as an own goal.
The hosts flew out of the traps, with Jordan Storey hitting the bar after just two minutes – as Villa failed to clear a corner – before Tom Barkhuizen lofted a half-volley over the bar a minute later.
Both sides struggled to generate any fluency in the opening 45 minutes, with Abraham frequently isolated for the visitors and Nmecha finding it difficult against an experienced Villa defence.
Graham Burke almost sparked the contest to life on 33 minutes, latching onto Daniel Johnson’s chipped pass, but Orjan Nyland reacted well to tip his volley wide.
Abraham created a half-chance on 42 minutes, jinking past two Preston challenges and into the area before curling an effort over the bar.
Dean Smith’s side made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time, as Glenn Whelan’s whipped corner found its way to Abraham at the back post, who nodded home from close range.
The second period began with a flurry of chances, with Nyland saving well with his legs from Nmecha before Declan Rudd was called into action to repel Conor Hourihane’s long-range strike.
Preston grabbed an equaliser on the hour mark, as Nmecha bundled home a cross from Johnson, with the aid of Elmohamady.
Nmecha looked determined to score a second goal, curling wide from 25 yards on 65 minutes and being denied by a last-ditch James Bree tackle two minutes later.
Nonetheless, the result ends Preston’s run of two defeats in the English Championship over the festive period, as promotion-chasing Villa picked up a third draw in their last five league matches.
